New Cost-Share Program: Commodity Buffers

The Walla Walla County Commodity Buffer Program is a new program that pays producers to plant and maintain buffers on private agricultural land to protect water quality. It offers two different options to protect water quality:  buffering agricultural land right along major waterbodies, and buffering agricultural land further away with runoff issues that impact major waterbodies. The location of the buffer determines the rules that apply.

More flexible buffers to protect water quality

If you have crops growing right along a major waterbody in Walla Walla County, you may be eligible to receive cost-share to plant and maintain a buffer strip there. If you have crops growing further away from a major waterbody in Walla Walla County, you may still be eligible for this program. For example, your field may be adjacent to a road with erosion issues that impact a stream, agricultural field drainages/low points may carry sediment into water nearby, or your field may be downhill from a neighbor with erosion issues.  Click this link to learn more about the program Commodity Buffer Program or contact Grant Traynor at the District office: (509) 956-3757.